I Will Maintain

Buckingham struck his gloves across his open palm.
"Whatever you do the country is lost," - he sneered.
"If it be I will not connive at it," replied the Prince. "Normake my profit out of that misfortune."
The Duke was contemptuos.
"Your Highness dreams of resistance - a second Hannibal!" William coloured and breathed deeply.
"I do think I might do even as he did."
"Press not the parallel too close, Highness. This is our second Punic war, and in a week or so M. de Louvois may say: 'Delenda est Carthago.'"
"Rome fell also," - returned William, - "and in a less noble fashion by her own corruption."